Mounting and supporting devices for ladders



United States Patent MOUNTING AND SUPPORTING DEVICES non LADDERS Frank Niedojadlo, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 6, 1953, Serial No. 366,155

3 Claims. (Cl. 228-61) The present invention relates to mounting and supporting devices for ladders and has for its main object the provision of a device aflixable to the end of a ladder capable of permitting of placing the upper end of a ladder in an opposite relation with a window of a dwelling or other structure and in a straddling relation with a window without breaking or injuring the window sash bars or panes.

Another object of the present invention is the provision .of a device of the character indicated which may be adjustable with relation to various widths of ladders, and also adjustable with relation to various widths of window openings.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a mounting and supporting device for ladders capable of engaging and bearing against the inner faces of the vertical window frame bars whereby a ladder may be supported laterally thereby preventing the same from slipping or shifting laterally upon a wall.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a mounting and supporting device for ladders which would include a base member carrying adjustable ladderengaging members to fit various widths of ladders, and adjustable members carried by said base for engaging window frames of various widths and the dwelling wall, thereby supporting a ladder in a straddling relation with a window.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the device showing its operative position with the upper end of a ladder;

Fig. 2 is a top elevational view thereof partly broken away showing its operative position with relation to a window frame and the outside face of a structure;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device, taken along the plane indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the present drawing in detail there is shown therein an oblong base 5, which is provided adjacent each of its ends with a longitudinal substantially centrally made slot 6, within which bolt 7 is accommodated for a sliding movement therewithin. Upon the inner face, and adjacent each slot 6, said base is provided with a longitudinal recess 8 for accommodating therewithin head 9 of each bolt 7.

Superimposed upon front face of base is foot 10 which is capable of sliding movement upon the said front face of said base 5, in either direction. Bolt 7 passes through each foot 10 and receives wing nut 11 in a threaded engagement for the purpose of clamping each foot 10 to said base 5 for maintaining each foot 10 in its rigid adjusted relation with said base 5. Extending at right angle from the outer end of each foot 10 is brace arm 12, which in its operative relation with a ladder remains in a superimposed relation with the inner face of sidepiece 13 of the ladder. Rungs 14 connect two sidepieces 13 at intervals to complete the structure of the ladder.

The outer free ends of said arms 12 is each provided with U-shaped supporting member 15 which supports and engages the inner edge of each sidepiece 13 of the ladder. The end of each arm 12, which is in the nearest proximity to its foot 10 is made arcuate as at 16, as seen in Fig. 3, for the pupose of distancing the remaining portion of said arm 12 from the plane of the wall of a structure, as is indicated in Fig. 3, in order that the upper end of the ladder may not touch the structure wall or any portion of the window.

Adjustably carried by each arm 12 is L-shaped member 17, one end of which is provided with longitudinal slot 18. Bolt 19 is passed through arm 12 and said slot 18 and is threadedly engaged by wing nut 20. By virtue of this arrangement the free end of said L-shaped member 17 may be adjustably shifted to overlie and engage the front edge of sidepiece 13. The adjustability of said L-shaped member 17, in cooperation with U-shaped member 15 permits .the embracing engagement of ladder sidepieces of various thicknesses, as is clearly seen in Fig. 3.

Coacting with each end of base 5, and in contact with the inner face of said base, is extensible member 21, which is provided with longitudinal slot 22, which may be on the same plane as-slot 6 of base 5. Carried by each end of said base 5 is bolt 23 which extends through said slot 22 and constitutes a guide for the sliding movement of said member 21 in either direction. Wing nut 24 threadedly engaging bolt 23 constitutes means whereby said extensible member may be clamped to base 5 in its adjusted relation with the ladder. Carried by the inner end of each extensible member 21 i buckle 25 which is in an embracing relation with base 5. The free ends of each buckle 25 are rigidly connected by pins 26, the ends of which are riveted. Said buckles 25 have sufiicient tolerance with relation to base 5 permitting free shifting movement of said buckles 25 upon base 5 when extensible members 21 are shifted in either direction. Said buckles 25 do not permit however any lateral shifting movement of said extensible members 21 relative to said base 5. Thus when wing nuts 24- are loosened extensible members 21 are capable of free shifting movement upon the inner face of said base 5.

Rigidly aflixed to the inner face of each extensible member 21 adjacent the free end thereof, by means of bolts or screws 27 is the wall and window frame engaging member which includes plate 28 superimposed upon the face of extensible member 21, and integrally formed therewith bar 29 which is in a transverse relation with each extensible member 21. Said bar 29 is provided at its free end with a transversely extended head 30. Said bar 29 and head 30 are each adapted to engage and bear against the inner face of the vertical window frame bar 31, as is clearly seen in Fig. 2. When said extensible members 21 are both adjusted with relation to any particular width of a window the two bars 29 will be brought to a contactual relation with the inner faces of a pair of vertical window frame bars 31 as is seen in Fig. 2, thereby preventing lateral shifting movement in either direction of the ladder supporting and mounting device. By virtue of this arrangement the ladder itself is secure from any lateral shifting movement.

Plate 28 at its free end carries transverse extension 32 for increasing the contactual surface of the support with the outer wall of a structure or of the outer face of the vertical bars of a window frame.

From the hereinabove description it will be readily apparent that the device is adjustable to fit ladders of various Widths and the sidepieces thereof of various widths and thicknesses. comparatively simple, eflicient and positive means are provided for extending the device to fit various widths of window frames.

As is apparent the mounting and supporting devices for ladders herein disclosed adapt a ladder to be placed squarely opposite the window without injuring or damaging the same. The need for a straddling position of a ladder with a window arises quite often for the purpose of cleaning the window from the outside, painting the frame or sash bars thereof, or generally repairing or maintaining windows. The device herein disclosed is of course capable of being shifted in a vertical direction in order to extend the upper end of the ladder with relation to the length of the window.

Recesses 8 are for the purpose of countersinking heads 9 of bolts 7 within base 5. This arrangement permits contactual relation of extensible members 21 with said base without any interference from bolts 7 or their heads 9, as is clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 4.

While there is described herein preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

l. A mounting devise for ladders for supporting a ladder in a straddling relation with a window comprising a horizontal base, adjustably slidable elongated :brace arms extending forwardly, then downwardly forwardly and carried by said base for engaging throughout their extent the inner faces of the ladder sidepieces, a pair of extensible members superimposed upon said base one adjacent each end thereof, said extensible members being adapted for longitudinal adjustment with relation to said base, a

members being provided with a longitudinal slot for accommodating therein said bolt and for permitting longitudinal sliding movement of each extensible member with relation to said base, a wing nut threadedly engaging one end of each of said bolts for clamping each of said extensible members for maintaining the former in their adjusted relation with said base, an L-shaped bar secured to each outer end of said extensible members, said bar at its inner end having an elongated vertical extension, the inner portion of said bar extending transversely of said extensible members and adapted to engage the inner face of a window frame side to brace the ladder against sidea wise movement.

one edge of a ladder sidepiece and an angular member spaced from said U-shaped member and adjustably secured to said strap to firmly engage the opposite edge of said ladder sidepiece.

3. The mounting device as set forth in claim 1, wherer in said elongated brace arm is adjustably secured to said buckle carried by the inner end of each of said extensible members, said buckles embracing said base, a 'bolt extending through each end of said base, each of said extensible base by a headed bolt passing through a slot in said base, the inner side of said slot adjacent the associated superimposed extensible member being countersunk to accommodate said bolt head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 495,810 Iseminger Apr. 18, 1893 783,259 Friend Feb. 21, 1905 799,782 Ellinger Sept. 19, 1905 1,004,284 Lehman Sept. 26, 1911 2,327,317 Randall Aug. 17, 1943 2,503,351 Otterson Apr. 11, 1950 2,522,821 Hansen Sept. 19, 1950 2,597,902 Roketa May 27, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 268,709 Great Britain Apr. 7, 1927 125,682 Switzerland May 1, 1928 

